On-plug magnetic tunnel junction devices based on spin torque transfer switching
First Claim
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1. A device, comprising:
- a substrate;
a conductive via formed over the substrate and vertically extended substantially perpendicular to the substrate;
a metal plug formed on top of the conductive via;
a dielectric material embedding the metal plug and exposing a top surface of the metal plug; and
a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) cell formed on the top surface of the metal plug.
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Abstract
Techniques and device designs associated with devices having magnetic or magnetoresistive tunnel junctions (MTJs) configured to operate based on spin torque transfer switching. On-plug MTJ designs and fabrication techniques are described.
162 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device, comprising:
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a substrate;
a conductive via formed over the substrate and vertically extended substantially perpendicular to the substrate;
a metal plug formed on top of the conductive via;
a dielectric material embedding the metal plug and exposing a top surface of the metal plug; and
a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) cell formed on the top surface of the metal plug. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device, comprising:
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a substrate;
a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) cell formed over the substrate and comprising a free ferromagnetic layer having a magnetization direction that is changeable between a first direction and a second substantially opposite direction, a fixed ferromagnetic layer having a magnetization direction fixed along substantially the first direction, and an insulator barrier layer formed between the free and fixed ferromagnetic layers to effectuate tunneling of electrons between the free and fixed ferromagnetic layers, wherein the magnetic tunnel junction cell is shaped to be elongated along the first direction;
a conductor line formed over the substrate and positioned to have a portion which spatially overlaps with the MTJ cell and is parallel to the first direction of the MTJ cell and is electrically coupled to supply a current across the MTJ cell; and
a control circuit to control the current to the MTJ cell from the conductor line to change the magnetization direction of the free ferromagnetic layer of the MTJ cell via spin torque transfer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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forming a dielectric layer over a substrate;
subsequently forming a contiguous metal structure to include at least one metal plug which is embedded in the dielectric layer and a metal layer which is atop and covers a top surface of the dielectric layer;
partially removing the metal layer of the contiguous metal structure to leave a remaining metal layer of the metal layer that is atop and covers the top surface of the dielectric layer without exposing the dielectric layer;
forming magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) layers on the remaining metal layer; and
patterning the MTJ layers to form at least one MTJ cell on top of the remaining metal layer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
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forming a dielectric layer over a substrate;
subsequently forming at least one metal plug embedded in the dielectric layer;
polishing the dielectric layer and the metal plug embedded in the dielectric layer to form a polished surface which exposes a top surface of the metal plug;
forming a conductive buffer layer over the polished surface to cover the dielectric layer and the metal plug;
forming magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) layers on the conductive buffer layer; and
patterning the MTJ layers to form at least one MTJ cell on the conductive buffer layer and on top of the metal plug. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification